New York has requested federal permission to import out-of-state marijuana so children and young adults with epilepsy can get medication soon instead of waiting for the state to develop its own program. Acting Health Commissioner Howard Zucker, in letters to the Justice Department, says there's objective evidence that cannabidiol, the active ingredient in marijuana, may help those patients who are suffering and not responding to conventional treatments. He says New York's medical marijuana program, with tightly regulated cultivation and manufacture within the state, isn't scheduled to start before 2016. In July, New York became the 23rd state to authorize its use for patients with diseases, including AIDS, cancer and epilepsy. Justice Department spokeswoman Emily Pierce says the department is studying the request. She was unaware of similar waiver approvals.

ALBANY, N.Y. —

New York has requested federal permission to import out-of-state marijuana so children and young adults with epilepsy can get medication soon instead of waiting for the state to develop its own program.

Acting Health Commissioner Howard Zucker, in letters to the Justice Department, says there's objective evidence that cannabidiol, the active ingredient in marijuana, may help those patients who are suffering and not responding to conventional treatments.

He says New York's medical marijuana program, with tightly regulated cultivation and manufacture within the state, isn't scheduled to start before 2016.

In July, New York became the 23rd state to authorize its use for patients with diseases, including AIDS, cancer and epilepsy.

Justice Department spokeswoman Emily Pierce says the department is studying the request. She was unaware of similar waiver approvals.